Dog
Meat typically seems like a safe food option to feed dogs. While this is true most of the time, there are certain parts of meat that are not healthy or safe for dogs to consume.
All meat that pet parents give to their pups should be prepared properly so that the dogs can get the most benefits from it. Including parts that are unsafe or have unhealthy characteristics will negate the benefits that many types of meat have.
Turkey is a great meat option to feed your dog. It has many health benefits, which you can read more about at here: whatthepup.spotandtango.com/can-dogs-eat-turkey/
However, not all parts of turkey meat are created equal, as you can confirm below.
What Pieces of Turkey Are Safe for Dogs?
Turkey meat is typically safe for dogs to consume. It is full of macronutrients and micronutrients, such as protein, riboflavin, and phosphorus. All of these things are great for your dog to digest.
Turkey is a particularly lean meat, meaning it has a low-fat content compared to other meats, such as beef and pork. The white meat of turkey, like the breast, is the leanest.
Dark meat, which can be found in some areas like the legs, has more fat content. It is still leaner than other meats but can be avoided if you are trying to avoid feeding a lot of fat to your pup.
Turkey giblets are also safe for your dog to consume and contain a lot of excellent nutritional value. Giblets consist of the turkey’s organs, including the heart, liver, and other internal organ meat. They make a great healthy treat option for your dog and can be fed raw or cooked.
Benefits of Turkey
As mentioned above, turkey is full of nutrients, including many different vitamins and minerals. The meat is protein-rich, making it a valuable source of digestible protein for your dog.
Turkey meat is also low-fat and low-calorie, which means it is an excellent option if your dog needs to lose weight or is simply trying to stay healthy. Compared to chicken, turkey may be easier for pups with sensitive stomachs to tolerate.
All of these things make turkey meat a beneficial source of protein for your dog to consume. It can make up to 10% of your pup’s daily calories.
What Pieces of Turkey Are Unsafe for Dogs?
While turkey meat is safe and healthy for your dog to eat, some other turkey parts are not. Beyond the giblets, most other turkey parts are unsafe for pups to consume because they are unhealthy or can cause serious health issues.
The skin of the turkey should be avoided, as it is high in fat. Simply remove the skin before serving turkey meat to your dog to avoid providing your dog with too much fat in their diet.
Cooked turkey bones should never be given to your pup. They are extremely dangerous for your dog to eat and can cause severe health problems. Cooked bones can easily splinter and tear your pup’s digestive tract.
They can also get lodged in your dog’s throat or intestinal tract, causing problems such as choking, intestinal blockages, vomiting, and constipation.
Raw bones can be safe to give to your pup but should always be a supervised treat. Avoid giving dogs raw bones that are too small, as they can pose a choking hazard if swallowed whole.
How to Prepare Turkey for Your Dog
If you want to start including turkey meat in your dog’s meals, you will need to ensure that you are preparing it correctly. As mentioned above, always remove the turkey skin because it is too fat.
Ensure that the turkey meat is cooked thoroughly and without seasoning. Plain turkey can be baked or boiled and chopped to serve to your pup. Adding seasonings could cause your dog’s stomach to become upset or worse if the herbs you use are toxic for dogs, such as garlic.
Cooked turkey should be chopped, cut into chunks, or shredded before feeding it to your pup to avoid choking. Remove all of the turkey bones, even if they are raw. Raw bones should be given to your dog separately to avoid issues during consumption.
Giblets are best given to your dog after they are cooked through. They can be fed to your dog raw, but it is best to check with your vet first.
Conclusion
While turkey is a healthy and delicious meat option to add to your dog’s meals, not all parts of the turkey are safe.
The skin on the turkey is too fatty to regularly feed to dogs. Turkey bones should also be handled with caution. Cooked turkey bones should never be given to your pup, but raw bones can sometimes be fed to your dog with supervision.
